History Herald: Holiday Series~ Ancient Origins & Traditions of Christmas & Yule
In this one day course, students will explore the true origins of Christmas. Come learn about ancient traditions of Yule & Saturnalia, the Celts, Vikings, and Romans while exploring how they were changed & were adopted over history!
Courtney Murray, M. Ed, M. Hist. World US History
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(592)
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What's included
1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
The History Herald: The History Behind Christmas- Yule, Saturnalia, and More! Extra! Extra! Learn All About It! In this one day course, students will explore the ancient origins of Christmas. Come learn about the ancient traditions of Yule & Saturnalia while exploring how these were changed & adopted over time to be the holiday that children love! Why do people put up Christmas trees? Why are there presents? Why do we decorate? Why is it celebrated in December? These are just a few of the questions that will be discovered as we travel back in time to investigate the origins of the Christmas holiday. We will travel back to explore the customs and traditions of past cultures, celebrations like Yule and Saturnalia, the importance of symbols such as trees, wreathes, holly, mistletoe, gifts, and the story of how it got connected to the birth of Jesus Christ by the Catholic Church. We will then travel to explore the origins of Santa Claus and his bag of gifts through the story of St. Nicholas of Myra. Why do we leave cookies out? Why do we hang stockings? Why does he have reindeer? We will compare the traditions celebrated today with those of the past. This is a non-religious class. Its objective is to trace the historical past of the current holiday celebrated around the world and highlight historical trends and themes. This class will help your child trace the historical origins of the holiday and traditions and connect them to present traditions celebrated around the world. Students will hone their historical analysis capabilities through discussion and lecture. Class will be interactive with lots of discussion and group collaboration, an activity, and a presentation. This is a beginner class, so no prior knowledge is needed. So jump on a sleigh and grab some cookies as we go explore the history of Christmas.
Learning Goals
Students will improve their understanding of history, ancient civilizations, and the development of the holiday of Christmas and its traditions that have developed overtime. Students will also work on their communication and critical thinking skills.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2020
5.0
592reviews
Star Educator
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
3 Degrees
Master's Degree in History from Arizona State University
Master's Degree in Education from Fayetteville State University
Bachelor's Degree in History from Duquesne University
For the past decade, I have been encouraging students through education and personal development to explore the challenges of the past. Through my own personal education and professional development, I create a safe environment for students to learn about challenging topics of the past. My undergraduate is in history, focusing on United States and European integration of world cultures. My first master's degree is in education with a focus on English/Language Arts and global history while teaching middle and high school. My second master's degree is in history with a focus on world empires and cultures and United States/Europe during the premodern era and modern era. I am currently pursuing my PhD in history focusing on immigration and relations with indigenous peoples. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$15
per classMeets once
45 min
Completed by 159 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
3-15 learners per class
